Living in Australia

Embrace a Different Way of Life

Australia is world-renowned for its exemplary natural beauty, its bustling cities, its friendly, laid-back people and its unique and interesting culture. If you are intrigued by the Land Down Under, where winter is summer and the humble Vegemite sandwich is a beloved national delicacy, you’re certainly not alone.

The nation’s capital is Canberra – however, Sydney is where most tourists come to have a good time and Sydney has been voted the most popular tourist destination in the world.In 2011, Sydney was voted number 1 among Conde Nast readers and in 2012 it was number 5 in the Travel+Leisure list of top 10 cities![1]

Of course, Australia is also a great place to live, although its supreme livability means that real estate prices are definitely on the high side of the spectrum! As of March 2015, the weighted average median price of a house in Australia was AUD$658,608.[2]

Melbourne and Sydney have constantly been voted by various global publications as two of the most liveable cities in the world.

Our brief guide to living in Australia is designed to help you make a smart decision about whether or not to relocate to this beautiful and singular place, which features some world-famous attractions, including the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and Bondi Beach.

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Education in Australia

This nation adheres to a 3-tier educational model, so it has three levels of education – these are primary, secondary and tertiary. Tertiary education is classified as post-secondary and examples of post-secondary educational institutions in Australia include universities, vocational facilities and TAFE colleges.

Monash University, which is located in Melbourne, is the biggest university in the country and it features a student population of 67,076.[3] In terms of world rankings for universities, the best include The University of Melbourne, The University of Sydney, Australian National University and the University of New South Wales.

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Lifestyle Facts

Aussie residents enjoy freedom of speech and they may associate as they please and follow any faiths that they wish to. This nation features a parliamentary democracy and men and women are considered to be equal under the law.

The country’s British colonial roots strongly influenced national lifestyle until the post-WWII period, when the country began to go through big changes. During this time frame, the population swelled dramatically and immigration was prevalent. These days, Australia is more diverse than ever before.

Many people believe that life in Australia is all about a rural and rustic way of life. However, most Aussies live in cities and towns, so the “outback lifestyle” isn’t what most Australians actually experience on a daily basis.

However, the pleasant climate, which features warm temperatures, does make Australia a wonderful place to laze on the beach, explore national parks or play sports outdoors. In summer, temperatures can climb as high as 30-35 degrees Celsius. In winter, they drop to about 12-15 degrees Celsius, and colder in the southern parts of Australia.

This nation’s official language is English – however, English speakers from other nations may find Australia slang difficult to understand at first. A “Barbie” is a BBQ and “arvo” is the afternoon…and this just scratches the surface! The slang is great fun to master and it’s something that is so very “Aussie”!

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Tourism is Big Business

The tourism industry in this country just keeps growing and experts anticipate a 3.5 percent increase in tourism during 2015-2016.[4] In 2015, 7.1 million people visited the nation. This industry is an important one and the total tourism spend is forecast to increase 4.5 per cent to $112.6 billion in 2015−16, and a further 4.3 per cent to $117.4 billion in 2016−17.[5]

Since the country is such a hot spot for tourists, it’s a great place to live as well. There is certainly no shortage of things to see and do!

Tourists flock in order to enjoy the nice weather and in order to explore Australia’s charming coastal cities (Sydney and Melbourne), along with its scenic Gold Coast and Queensland regions. The Outback is also a place that tourists love to experience, up close and personal.

The Outback is a huge and remote region in the interior of the nation and it is home to some fascinating creatures, including emus, red kangaroos, crocodiles and snakes.

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Population and Stats

According to The Australian Bureau of Statistics, this country has a population of 23,781,2000, as of June 30, 2015.[6]

The average wage for full-time employment, before taxation, was AUD$75,603[7] in the last quarter of 2014.

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The Biggest Industries

This country’s economy relies on the service sector industry, which makes up 68%[8] of the national GDP (Gross Domestic Product). As well, mining is an important industry and brings in 7%[9] of national GDP. Tourism, which earns multi-billions annually, is also an important facet of the national economy.

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Learn about the Nation’s Unique Culture

The country’s culture is rooted in the traditions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and also in the impact of British colonialism.

Aboriginal culture is commonly reflected inart and music. British colonialism shows its influence in myriad ways, including food and drink (meat pies and beer are British-inspired favorites) and sport (rugby and cricket are beloved). It has also given us excellent parliamentary, legal and public administration traditions and systems.

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Discover the Healthcare System

This nation has a healthcare system which is run via the federal government. It offers universal health care, via its Medicare program, which was launched during the early 1980s. Taxpayers fund the program, except for those with lower incomes who are exempt from paying the 2% annual Medicare levy.

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Why Live in Australia?

Australia is a fantastic place to live. From its amazing coffee culture to its startling pink lakes (Google “Lake Hillier” if you want to see what we mean!) to its laid-back citizens and rich heritage…this nation has it all. This is why Australia is one of the Top 3 most desired travel destinations for Americans.[10]

Now that you know more about the Land Down Under and its many charms, you’ll have a better sense of whether or not relocating to Australia is right for you.